In iPhone 4 Apple a implementat un al doilea microfon, iar rolul acestui microfon era de a elimina zgomotele ambientale in timpul apelurilor. Tehnologia nu s-a dovedit a fi chiar atat de bine dezvoltata pentru iPhone deoarece multi utilizatori au inceput sa se planga de calitatea apelurilor, insa acum Apple are o alta problema pe cap. O companie din Sillicon Valley sustine ca Apple i-ar fi furat tehnologia pentru eliminarea zgomotelor ambientale si ar fi implementat-o in iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, plus toate modelele tabletei iPad lansate in urma iPhone 4.
A small Silicon Valley company is suing Apple, alleging the computer maker infringed its patent covering noise-reduction technology for cell phones. Noise Free Wireless said it presented its technology at several meetings at Apple’s Cupertino, California, headquarters and provided it with detailed technical information prior to Apple filing its own patent for a similar technology. The technology has gone on to be used in the iPhone 4 and 4S and all three iPad models, it said.
Noise Free se numeste aceasta companie si ea sustine ca incepand cu 2007 a discutat cu Apple despre posibila implementare a acestei tehnologii in iPhone-uri, oferindu-le celor de la Apple date si hardware prin care tehnologia putea fi utilizata. Desi cei de la Noise Free au brevetat propria tehnologie, ei spun ca Apple ar fi cerut brevetarea unei tehnologii asemanatoare ce are la baza acelasi sistem facut folosind un cod proprietar Noise Free. Totul a fost desigur trimis la brevetat dupa ce in iPhone 4 a fost implementat deja microfonul pentru eliminarea zgomotelor ambientale, insa acel microfon este construit folosind tehnologia unei alte companii.
The relationship between Apple and Noise Free went sour in August 2010 when Noise Free learned Apple had decided to use technology from a rival company, Audience, in its products. In June that year, while the companies were still talking, Apple filed U.S. patent application 2011/0300806 covering a system for suppressing noise in a signal while retaining the user’s voice.
Acum instantele din SUA vor decide cine are dreptate si cine nu, iar daca Apple a gresit atunci trebuie sa plateasca, asa cum a facut deja in cazul Proview.
